DeepSeek MCP Server for Windsurf: Setup & Config

What you can do with DeepSeek in Windsurf

Pick it for explicit DeepSeek V4 controls plus model, balance, and in-memory conversation utilities.

• Perform fill-in-the-middle text completion with V4 Pro
• List or reset conversation histories in the active process

Before you start: DeepSeek in Windsurf

• npx
• A DeepSeek API key for local mode
• An MCP-compatible client

This is the local stdio launch. A hosted HTTP alternative is documented at https://deepseek-mcp.ragweld.com/mcp and requires its own bearer token; it is not needed for this local configuration.

DeepSeek Windsurf configuration

1. Choose Windsurf configuration scope

   For DeepSeek MCP Server, open macOS/Linux: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json. Merge into mcpServers; remote endpoints use serverUrl.

2. Add DeepSeek MCP Server to Windsurf

   Use the deepseek-mcp-server entry below in mcpServers. Keep DeepSeek MCP Server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Windsurf entries.

3. Check DeepSeek MCP Server in Windsurf

   DeepSeek MCP Server: Refresh MCP in Windsurf settings and inspect Cascade’s tools.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "deepseek-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "deepseek-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "DEEPSEEK_API_KEY": "<DeepSeek provider API key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

DeepSeek tools available to Windsurf

DeepSeek's stored tool list documents 7 tools; compare it with Windsurf's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

chat_completion

After refreshing DeepSeek in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for chat_completion.

Generate DeepSeek V4 chat responses from a message or conversation history.

completion

After refreshing DeepSeek in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for completion.

Generate V4 Pro fill-in-the-middle text from a prompt and suffix.

create_response

After refreshing DeepSeek in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for create_response.

list_models

After refreshing DeepSeek in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for list_models.

Retrieve available DeepSeek model identifiers.

get_user_balance

After refreshing DeepSeek in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for get_user_balance.

reset_conversation

After refreshing DeepSeek in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for reset_conversation.

list_conversations

After refreshing DeepSeek in Windsurf settings, check Cascade's tool list for list_conversations.

List conversation identifiers currently held in process memory.

DeepSeek: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting DeepSeek in Windsurf

• Check npx deepseek-mcp-server (Node.js/npm) on the machine running Windsurf's MCP integration for DeepSeek MCP Server; refresh MCP and inspect Cascade's tools.
• Check DEEPSEEK_API_KEY for DeepSeek MCP Server; do not bypass a Windsurf permission error with a broad administrator token.
• DeepSeek MCP Server uses stdio here: Windsurf must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Conversation history is limited to the current process memory
• Known limitation: Provider credentials or a hosted bearer token are required
• Known limitation: Responses API tool appears in structured data but not the README tool list
• General Windsurf troubleshooting lives in the /clients/windsurf guide.

Frequently asked questions